First detection of a Sesamia nonagrioides resistance allele to Bt maize in Europe

The Ebro Valley (Spain) is the only hotspot area in Europe where resistance evolution of target pests to Cry1Ab protein is most likely, owing to the high and regular adoption of Bt maize (>60%). The high-dose/refuge (HDR) strategy was implemented to delay resistance evolution, and to be effective it requires the frequency of resistance alleles to be very low (<0.001). An F(2) screen was performed in 2016 to estimate the frequency of resistance alleles in Sesamia nonagrioides from this area and to evaluate if the HDR strategy is still working effectively. Out of the 137 isofemale lines screened on Cry1Ab maize leaf tissue, molted larvae and extensive feeding were observed for two consecutive generations in one line, indicating this line carried a resistance allele. The frequency of resistance alleles in 2016 was 0.0036 (CI 95% 0.0004–0.0100), higher but not statistically different from the value obtained in 2004–2005. Resistance does not seem to be evolving faster than predicted by a S. nonagrioides resistance evolution model, but the frequency of resistance is now triple the value recommended for an effective implementation of the HDR strategy. Owing to this, complementary measures should be considered to further delay resistance evolution in the Ebro Valley.